Getting bikes from Norway to Malaga and back
 

Many years ago I got very lucky and got three bikes shipped from Oslo to Malaga on a movers truck that had some spare space and a storage facility in Malaga - it was all dirt cheap.

I am planning ahead for a trip to Morocco (when covid permits).

I want to transport two bikes from Norway to Malaga. The bikes would have to stay at a storage facility until I would be able to fly in, with pickup the same day I arrive. On the return I would want to drop the bikes off at a terminal or storage facility where it would wait until it got shipped. Fly myself home, and pick up the bikes shortly after it had arrived - or have them dropped of at home.

I received one tip, which I followed up on. They replied with a one liner: 1.000,- USD per bike for shipping to Malaga... for what I assume is one way only and no storage.

There are a lot of trucks with people moving to and from spain, plus a lot of freight trucks. A lot of these are not exactly fully loaded in both directions. There must be ways to get this cheaper?

I know of companies that take bikes to Alicante, but that is a bit too far away from Malaga. I want to fly in, pick up my bike, and be on a ferry to Morocco - all on the same day.

Please advice.

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In case you are about to suggest other options than shipping the bikes:

Ridng the bikes the approximately 4.000 kms would take a minimum of 4 days each way - but more likely closer to a week as I would be riding with someone who is not experienced with long distance riding. Having the bikes shipped to Alicante would add one day to my itinerary, each way, maybe two. Riding the bikes to northern Germany, putting them on the train to southern Germany, and ride from there - would add 3 days to my itinerary, each way. I could alternatively put the bikes on a trailer and drive there in four days, or put them in the back of a van and drive there in three (don't have a van). Also, when calculating in all the travelling costs for getting there and back, the savings are not all that great.

Time is precious. I don't have time to savour both Europe and Morocco on this next trip, I will have to choose. I choose Morocco if I can - but it demands that I can ship the bikes round trip Norway-Malaga-Norway, and at a fairly low cost.

So the problem is that they don't have a warehouse/terminal in Malaga. You need to contact a local freight forwarder in Oslo who can look up which road hauling company has a terminal closest to Malaga, then you can book the shipment with them. Drop off the bike at a terminal locally in Oslo, pick it up at their terminal in/around Malaga.

One other issue would be the availability/storage of the bike's shipping frame. This turns the bike into a double europallet for the shipper, very easy for them to handle (and stack on top of each other). But they need to have the frame, and they need to keep it in their terminal for your return journey.

For example, there is a local company here that takes bikes from Tallinn to Milan for about 200-250 euros one way, and they will also rent you a frame, for 3 euros per day.

Realistically, I think your best option is to go with the company that ships to Alicante, and take the ferry from Almeria (~3hr ride from Alicante).

AnTyx - you are probably right about the Alicante option, and it is my fallback. I have however done the Malaga route once before - and it was really great. But, I got lucky then as I just stumbled accross an opportunity, and it was only one way. The bike was picked up from a mini warehouse.

Dealing with pallets when in a hurry is a PITA - but so is getting a destroyed bike from someone who doesn't know how to secure a bike properly. Last time I shipped on a pallet. But I have shipped too and from Iceland with no pallet, and also from Guinea bissau. The Iceland route the securing of the bike was left to the freight company. From Guinea Bissau I insisted on doing it myself. On all other trips I have built my own pallets and boxes. In Senagal this came at a hefty cost as the wood that was used was extremely dense and heavy.

There is a tour operator in norway that transports bikes from Norway to Alicante. They do transport bikes that are not part of their tour, but from the look of ther website, they do not seem very flexible in terms of their round trip time tables. This is understandable as they have to ensure the same ammount of bikes on both trips to prevent having too few to justify the costs, or too many to fit on the truck.

I have posted on an FB expat group in Malaga - hopefully that will bring me some luck.

Small update:

https://www.mctransport.no/ ships bikes to Alicante NOK 6.000,- (700 USD) per bike each way (discounts if more than one bike). Storage fee is 25€ per month per bike (stored with a local bike club). No pallet required (not wanted), and all the gear ships with the bike. He does not have to stick to a touring time table, and hence it does not matter for him wether I am gone for a single week or five. The number of trips he makes are not that many, so I could risk being without the bike for a while. He could probably arrange something in Malaga as well.

Right now he only does within Norway due to Korona...

The last time I did this trip it cost me half as much...

If anyone has other suggestions, please keep it coming.

Silverwolf has a warehouse close to Málaga airport.

Alternatively get the bike to Alicante, ride to Almería (3 hours) and take the ferry to Melilla. Then head south past Oujda into the offroad playground of the Rekkam Plateau.

Thanks Tim Cullins. Is there anything you don't know about Morocco?

One thing I am trying to find is the regular time tables for the ferry between Almeria and Melilla (pre covid, on the assumption that they will return to this when they open back up) - both directions. I tried the chat function with the ferry company earlier today - but they were anything but helpful. They pointed me to the website's booking feature. But since all trips are on hold due to Covid - there was no info to be found. When I pointed this out to them and asked for their regular time table - they again pointed to the booking engine and said something about covid and ended the chat.

What I need to know is the latest time my flight can arrive at Alicante in order to make the ferry the same day - if at all possible or if I require a stopover.

In the other direction, the latest arrival at Almeria for me to have time to drop off the bikes at Alicante and still make it to the airport the same day - again if at all possible or if I require a stopover.

BTW. Your link to the Morocco knowledbase is broken - or atleast was when I tried it earlier today...

The Almería to Melilla crossing is overnight, the boat leaves very late, maybe after 11pm, and you arrive the next morning. There are cabins available, either sole use or shared with snoring locals. Or if you have something soft you can just go to sleep on the floor in the lounge.

I think ferries are still running as Melilla is part of Spain. The important thing to check is whether the border between Melilla and Morocco is open. It's been closed since last March/April time.

And the alternate crossing from Algeciras or Tarifa to Morocco have also been suspended for non-freight for about a year.

Thanks again. Late departure and overnight cruise from the mainland is perfect!

Do you by any chance know when it departs in the other direction, back to the mainland?

Mrs Trip and I have our bikes stored in Malaga since last March and our shortened visit to Morocco. These guys transport from the UK as a rule, but I'm sure they could arrange shipment from Norway for you. It probably isn't cheap.
Good secure facility and they are bike owners.

Sol Moves Trans SL
13 Calle Galileo Galilei, Polígono Cantarranas , Coín, AL, 29100, Spain
sol_moves@icloud.com